Soror Dolorosa

Formerly from Toulouse (southern France), SOROR DOLOROSA was originally founded in 2001, with Andy (Nuit Noire, Mutiilation, Peste Noire, Celestia, Darvulia, Fornication) on drums, Franck (ex Funeraell) on guitar, Herve (ex Funeraell) on bass, and Christophe Guenot (ex Funeraell) on vocals.
Herve came up with the name of SOROR DOLOROSA because of a novel titled “Bruges-la-morte” by Georges Rodenbach, a Flemish symbolist writer from the late 19th century. A novel marked by symbolism of nostalgia and mourning. SOROR DOLOROSA means “Sister Pain” in Latin, one could almost translate it as “lovers of pain” in a more Baudelaire way…
The band recorded an unpublished demo, then the line-up changed in 2003 with the arrival of Emey (ex Contrast, Unscarred…), who replaced Franck on guitar. Subsequently they recorded a second unpublished demo and did some gigs until they split in 2005.
In August 2007 they reformed with the present line up. A month later , based on songs written by bassist Carles Hervé, the band recorded a third unpublished demo whose content sounds definitely Gothic Rock and Death Rock, influenced by groups such as Christian Death, Bauhaus, and The Sisters of Mercy .
From that time, Soror Dolorosa’ s style became more personal and they found an own identity as a band. The songs were now written by the four members together, though still mostly based on the bass guitar. They took on a Cold Wave colouring, more in line with bands such as The Cure or Human League , but also with hints of 70’s rock like Deep Purple or Black Sabbath and retaining the Sisters of Mercy- like Gothic Rock influence.
Soror Dolorosa made their first record appearance with “American Chronicle” in March 2008, on the free compilation “Poisoned Dead Frogs”.
When the third demo was out on myspace, the group was contacted to release an EP through the British label Todestrieb Records. This 6 track EP, entitled “Severance”, wasn’t released until August 2009 due to production delays and is being distributed through underground ways, while the band promoted it with successful live performances all over France.

Description

Death rock. Cold-wave. Dark, unsettling new-wave, post-punk, batcave music from France. Severance is their debut release.

Frontman Andy Julia will be familiar to most as the original, and current, drummer of Nuit Noire. He has also played in Peste Noire, Mutiilation, Celestia and is one half of Darvulia.
Soror Dolorosa however is a complete departure from metal. Cold-wave blue sounds influenced by 80s post-punk and the variety of -wave splinters that formed in that decade. Bands like Sisters of Mercy, Virgin Prunes, Slowdive, Specimen (and other Batcave club regulars – The Cure, Siouxsie etc.) serve as pointers while building their own approach within a French revival.

Sombre, passionate music with careful, often sparse, song writing;shimmering guitar notes, strong important bass lines, drums that pound the bass and crack the snare;and a palpable sense of detachment, emphasising the cold in cold-wave.

Reviews

…while we love the current revival of lo-fi new wave goth garage pop, Cold Cave, Blank Dogs, Gary War, Zola Jesus, etc… Soror Dolorosa has supplanted them all and now seems to be the record we can NOT stop listening to. – Aquarius